Opposition lobbying to change lobbyist rules

Queensland’s Shadow Integrity Minister says there should be room for change after a government-run committee dismissed calls to widen the definition of lobbyists.

THE Queensland Opposition Shadow Integrity Minister says there is a “cloak of secrecy” surrounding lobby laws following a government-run committee dismissing calls to widen the definition of lobbyists to include those who are “in-house”.

The Economics and Governance Committee, headed by Labor MP Linus Power, tabled its report into widening the definition of lobbyists to include “in-house” lobbyists on Friday.

But the recommendation was dismissed by the parliamentary committee despite stakeholders – including the Crime and Corruption Commission – suggesting it should happen.

LNP Shadow Integrity Minister Fiona Simpson said there was room for change when it came to who should be required to register as a lobbyist.

Queensland Shadow Integrity Minister Fiona Simpson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“There is huge scope for reform in transparency because the line between Labor lobbyists and decisions of the State Government has been cloaked in secrecy,” she said.

Ms Simpson used the premier’s former chief of staff Denise Spinks, who left her government role to be hired by consulting agency Anacta soon after, as an example.

“ (Ms Spinks) went to work for a Labor lobbying firm but allegedly wasn’t a lobbyist despite critical meetings with government,” she said.

It is not suggested that Ms Spinks has engaged in any wrongdoing

The CCC refused to comment as to whether the parliamentary committee should have acknowledged the recommendations, however, in the public hearing noted in the report, supported the inclusion of in-house lobbyists saying it would address an important corruption risk.

The Premier’s former chief of staff Denise Spinks. Source: Supplied.

“In our view there is an obvious corruption risk posed by the in-house lobbyist arrangement,” the CCC spokesman said.

“An entity which wishes to avoid lobbying restrictions may simply engage a lobbyist in what may be categorised as a sham employment arrangement in order to circumvent lobbying laws.”

The parliamentary committee did however agree with the intent of a number of recommendations that were made to address the conflict of interest situations that arise where a company undertakes government work but also works for non-government clients.

It was put forward that the Queensland Government Supplier Code of Conduct be amended so firms are required to make a specific statement addressing the conflict of interest, and also that conflict of interest be added as a due diligence check as a part of the evaluation process of the proposal.